Means for reducing noise in tobacco processing machines or the like

ABSTRACT

A cigarette packing machine or another machine for the production and/or processing of smokers&#39;&#39; products has an upright mounting wall, several conveyors, folding members and/or other processing devices mounted on and located at one side of the wall, and a transmission assembly having a case mounted on and adjacent to the other side of the wall. The transmission assembly contains moving gears, cams, ratchets, pinions, followers and/or other elements which generate noise that is propagated through solid bodies and through air. The propagation of noise through solid bodies is reduced or eliminated by soundproofing components of sand, foam rubber, synthetic plastic material and/or sinter metal which are interposed between the elements in the case, between the case and the mounting wall, and between the processing devices and the power take-offs of the transmission assembly. The propagation of noise through air is reduced or eliminated by a hood which surrounds the case and includes a layer of rock wool sandwiched between an outer metallic layer and an apertured inner metallic layer.

United States Patent Rudszinat et al.

[4 1 Feb. 18,1975

[ 1 MEANS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES OR THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Willy Rudszinat, Dassendorf; Anton Baier, Ahrensburg; Uwe Heitmann; Peter Brand, both of Hamburg, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Hauni-Werke Korher & Co., KG,

Hamburg, Germany 22 Filed: Apr. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 457,230

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 18, 1973 Great Britain 18585/73 [52] 11.8. C1. ..181/33 R, 131/23 R, 181/33 A, 181/33 K [51] Int. Cl. A24c 5/30 [58] Field of Search 131/20 R, 23 R; 181/33 A, 181/33 K, 33 R, 33 G [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,881 2/1965 Bodine 181/33 G UX 3,412,513 11/1968 Gosell 181/33 G UX Primary Examiner Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner.lohn F. Gonzales Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A cigarette packing machine or another machine for the production and/or processing of smokers products has an upright mounting wall, several conveyors, folding members and/or other processing devices mounted on and located at one side of the wall, and a transmission assembly having a case mounted on and adjacent to the other side of the wall. The transmission assembly contains moving gears, cams, ratchets, pinions, followers and/or other elements which generate noise that is propagated through solid bodies and through air. The propagation of noise through solid bodies is reduced or eliminated by soundproofing components of sand, foam rubber, synthetic plastic material and/or sinter metal which are interposed between the elements in the case, between the case and the mounting wall, and between the processing devices and the power take-offs of the transmission assembly. The propagation of noise through air is reduced or eliminated by a hood which surrounds the case and includes a layer of rock wool sandwiched betweenan outer metallic layer and an apertured inner metallic layer.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB I 8 m5 SHEET 10E 3 PATEMEU FEB I 81575 SHEET 2 UF 3 PATENTED FEB] 8 I 5 SHEET 30F 3 MEANS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to machines for the production and/or processing of smokers products, such as plain or filter tipped cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, filter rod sections, packs for rod-shaped smokers products and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in means for reducing noise in such machines.

All or nearly all modern machines for the making and/or processing of plain or filter-tipped rod-like smokers products and/or packs and cartons for such products are designed with a view to allow for convenient assembly and changes in setup as well as for rapid detection and elimination of malfunctions which are caused mainly by the processed material. As a rule, the conveyors, pasters, folding units, trimmers, cutoffs, wrapping units and/or other processing devices are installed in overhung position at the front side of an upright mounting wall and are provided with caps or hoods which are held in position by quick-release fasteners. The mounting wall is located in front of a transmission assembly which includes one or more prime movers, gear trains, levers, links, clutches, couplings and other moving parts which serve to change the RPM of certain elements, to convert rotary movements into reciprocatory movements, to change continuous movements into stepwise movements, to interrupt movements in response to excessive resistance and/or to perform other functions which are needed for proper operation of a modern tobacco processing machine. The mounting wall further carries bearings and analogous supports for movable parts of processing devices and normally constitutes the front wall of the case of the aforementioned transmission assembly. If the machine in question is a machine for the production of plain or filter tipped cigarettes, its output approaches or even exceeds 70 articles per second. At such high speeds, the machine generates a considerable amount of noise which affects the health and the performance of workmen, especially in a plant wherein entire batteries of machines are set up close to each other to operate independently or to form part of production lines each of which includes two or more directly or indirectly coupled machines. For example, a complete production line may include a cigarette rod making machine which turns out plain cigarettes, a filter rod making machine which produces filter rod sections, a filter cigarette machine which assembles plain cigarettes with filter rod sections, one or more packing machines which confine groups of filter cigarettes in soft or hingedlid packs and provide such packs with transparent outer envelopes with or without tear strips, and one or more carton filling machines.

All heretofore known proposals to reduce the noise of a modern machine for the production and/or processing of smokers products have met with limited success. Such proposals include providing the aforementioned hoods with liners of soundproofing material. The liners are quite effective; however, all moving parts cannot be concealed by hoods because they must be readily acessible at all times in order to facilitate rapid detection and elimination of causes of frequently occurring malfunctions and to thus reduce the losses in output, especially if a malfunction occurs in a machine which forms part of a complete production line. Other presently known proposals include reducing the tolerances of moving parts to thus reduce or eliminate play, and improving the quality of surfaces of moving parts, such as gears, cams, elements of geneva movements, followers and pawls. These proposals are much too costly and at best insure a temporary reduction of noise which increases with progressing wear on moving parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a machine for the production and/or processing of smokers products, such as a packing machine for cigarettes, whose operation is practically noiseless or at least much quieter than the operation of conventional machines, wherein the reduction of noise can be achieved without contributing appreciably to the bulk and/or cost of the machine, wherein the noise suppressing means are simple, compact, inexpensive and long-lasting, and wherein the noises suppressing means do not interfere with access to those processing devices which require constant or frequent inspection, maintenance and/or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for preventing or reducing the transmission of noise through air and/or through solid bodies in a machine for the processing and/or production of smokers products.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for the production and/or processing of smokers products with means for reducing noise to a fraction of the noise which is generated during operation of conventional machines.

An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for reducing the transmission of noise between mobile devices which are movably supported in overhung position on an upright mounting wall and a transmission assembly which serves to impart to such devices rotary, reciprocatory, intermittent, continuous, pivotal, regular, irregular or composite movements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved transmission assembly for use in machines for the production and/or processing of smokers products.

The invention is embodied in a machine for the production and/or processing of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filter rod sections, packs for cigarettes'or the like, cartons for cigarette packs or the like and/or other smokers products. The machine comprises a preferably upright mounting wall, a plurality of conveyors, folding members, severing units, trimming means and- /or other processing devices for tobacco, filter material and/or wrapping material which are supported by the mounting wall and are preferably located at the front side of such wall, atransmission assembly having a plurality of mobile elements which are supported by the wall and serve to drive the processing devices with attendant generation of noise including noise which is transmitted through air and noise which is transmitted through solid bodies, first soundproofing means which includes one or more components interposed between the wall and the transmission assembly and/or between the elements of the transmission assembly, and second soundproofing means including one or more components interposed between the elements of the transmission assembly and the processing devices.

The first and second soundproofing means serve mainly to eliminate and reduce noise which is transmitted through solid bodies. The machine preferably further comprises one or more hoods which surround a portion of or the entire transmission assembly and serve to intercept noise which is being transmitted through air.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved noise reducing means itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic partly elevational and partly sectional view of a cigarette packing machine which is equipped with noise reducing means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail in the machine of FIG. l and shows the connection between an upright mounting wall for conveyors and the like and the front wall of the case of a transmission assembly;

FIG. 3 illustrates a torque transmitting connection between a first power take-off of the transmission assembly and a first conveyor of the packing machine;

FIG. 4 illustrates a torque transmitting connection between a second power take-off of the transmission assembly and a second conveyor of the packing machine;

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner of reducing noise in the interior of the transmission assembly; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail as seen in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. I shows a packing machine for groups of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles. The machine comprises a transmission assembly 1 having a case for one or more prime movers, gearings and/or other mobile elements forming one or more positive power trains and power take-offs and including one or more electric and/0r hydraulic motors, gears, clutches, couplings, racks and pinions, geneva movements, cams, followers and/or others. The case of the transmission assembly I is located behind and is connected with an upright mounting wall 2 which is located behind several conveyors, folding members and analogous processing devices for rod-shaped articles, component parts of packs for rod-shaped articles, and finished packs. The processing devices which are located in front of and supported in overhung position by the mounting wall 2 include two indexible or continuously rotated conveyors 3 and 4 in the form of turrets, several folding and/or tucking members (only one folding member shown at 6) for sheet-like blanks which are to be converted into packs, and a magazine or hopper 7 for finished packs. The folding member 6 can also perform the function of a transfer device or pusher which can move groups of rod-shaped articles into and/or from the hollow mandrels or analogous receptacles of the adjacent turret or turrets.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the mounting wall 2 and a portion of the front wall 8 of the case of the transmission assembly 1. The walls 2 and 8 define a compartment 9 so that they do not directly touch each other. The compartment 9 is filled with a particulate soundproofing and antidroning material 111, such as sand. The marginal portions of the walls 2 and 8 flank one or more soundproofing components in the form of rings or strips 12 consisting of foam rubber. The connecting means 13 for securing the walls 2 and 8 to each other comprises several screws 14 each of which passes through an eye 16 at the rear side of the mounting wall 2 and into a tapped bore machined into the front surface l17 of the wall 8. The eye 16 is separated from the front surface 17 by a ring-shaped soundproofing and distancing component 18 preferably consisting of sinter metal (bronze). Such metals are known under the trademark Hidamet and are described on pages 207 et seq. of the Aug. 15, 1966 issue of The Engineer. A washer 19 of similar material is interposed between the head 21 of the screw M- and the front end face of the eye 16.

The radiation of sound from the other walls of the case of transmission assembly l is reduced by a hood 22 which includes an outer layer 23 of sheet metal, an apertured inner layer 24 of sheet metal, and an intermediate layer 26 of fibrous material, such as rock wool. The hood 22 is secured to the mounting wall 2 and to the upper, side and rear walls of the case of transmission assembly 1 by combined soundproofing and distancing components which may consist of foam rubber and/or sinter metal.

The just described soundproofing means prevent undamped transmission of sound from the case of the transmission assembly I to the mounting wall 2. The filler 11 of sand or the like damps vibrations which are produced by moving elements in the case of the transmission assembly ll, and the hood 22 prevents unimpeded radiation of sound from those walls of the transmission case which are not adjacent to the mounting wall 2. Such mode of soundproofing has been found to reduce the noise level to a fraction of that which is observable during operation of conventional packing machines for cigarettes or the like. However, it was found that additional reductions of the transmission of sound can be achieved by preventing sound from propagating itself between the driving elements of the transmission assembly and driven processing devices at the front side of the mounting wall 2. Such additional reductions in the transmission of sound can be achieved in a manner as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 shows a power take-off 27 which constitutes a coupling between a rotary output element 28 which is mounted in one or more antifriction bearings 31 in the front wall 8 of the case of the transmission assembly l and a driven shaft 29 which is rotatable in the mounting wall 2 and can transmit torque to the turret 4 of FIG. 1. The output element 28 is coaxial with the shaft 29 and carries a flange 32 which is adjacent to but spaced from a similar flange 36 of the shaft 29. The means for rotating the flange 36 in response to rotation of the output element 28 comprises one or more pins 34 snugly received in suitable axially parallel bores of the flange 36 and extending into ring-shaped soundproofing components 33 in the flange 32. Each component 33 may consist of sinter metal. The shaft 29 rotates in one or more antifriction ball bearings 37 which are installed in the wall 2, and may be rigid or integral with the turret 4. The material of the soundproofing component or components 33 is preferably a substance having a high self-damping coefficient, such as bronze.

The flanges 32 and 36 rotate in a recess 39 surrounded by a ring-shaped shield 38 of the wall 2. The compartment 9 is sealed from the recess 39 by one or more ringor strip-shaped soundproofing components 41 consisting of foam rubber.

The component or components 33 limit the extent of transmission of sound from the output elements 28 to the driven shaft 29, turret 4 and mounting wall 2. It is clear that the component 33 of FIG. 3 can be replaced with a toothed soundproofing component of sinter metal or the like which is provided with internal teeth to mate with external teeth of the flange 36. Such internally toothed component is then secured to and surrounds the flange 32. It is further clear that the component 33 or an internally toothed soundproofing component can be mounted in or on the flange 36 to receive torque from the flange 32.

The insulation of the case of the transmission assembly 1 from the mounting wall 2 presents problems because the case must be fixedly connected with the wall 2. Consequently, in the absence of appropriate measures, the noise could be transmitted to the wall 2 through solid bodies, i.e. through the connection between the wall 2 and the case of the transmission assembly. Moreover, the transmission of sound through solid bodies must be prevented or reduced in regions where the power take-off means of the transmission assembly 1 engage with the processing devices at the front side of the mounting wall 2. All this can be achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing the transmission assembly 1 with a case whose front wall 8 does not constitute the mounting wall for the processing device but rather a discrete or separate wall which is secured to the mounting wall 2 by the aforementioned connecting means 13 including one or more soundproofing components 18, 19 and by the provision of soundproofing components (such as the component 33 of FIG. 3) in the means for transmitting motion from the elements in the case of the transmission assembly 1 to the respective processing devices at the front side of the mounting wall.

FIG. 4 shows a fixed shaft 48 which is rigid with the mounting wall 2 and rotatably supports the turret 3. The turret 3 rotates on one or more antifriction bearings 47 which surround the fixed shaft 48. The means for rotating the turret 3 comprises a first ring gear 43 which is rigid with the hub 3a of the turret and a second ring gear 44 which mates with the ring gear 43 and receives torque from a rotary output element 52 of the transmission assembly 1. The output element 52 is a shaft which rotates in antifriction bearings 53, 54 provided therefor in an elongated sleeve 56 secured to the front wall 8 by a washer-like soundproofing component 57 consisting of sinter metal. The mounting wall 2 defines with the sleeve 56 a ring-shaped space 59 which is surrounded by a cylinder 58 and is sealed from the compartment 9 by one or more ringor strip-shaped soundproofing components 61 consisting of foam rubber. The shaft 52 is rigid with a flange 51 which transmits torque to the ring gear 44 through the medium of an annular soundproofing component 49 consisting of sinter bronze or the like. A similar annular soundproofing component 46 of sinter metal is interposed between the hub 3a of the turret 3 and the ring gear 43. The gears 43, 44 constitute a gear train 42 which rotates the turret 3 in response to rotation of the shaft 52 whereby the components 57, 49, 46 oppose the transmission of 5 noise and contribute to a much quieter operation of the packing machine. The annular components 46 and 49 may also consist of a suitable synthetic plastic material.

The sound or noise which develops while the teeth of the gears 43, 44 mate and the prime mover rotates the shaft 52 cannot be transmitted to the turret 3 due to the provision of annular soundproofing components 46, 49. The component 57 reduces the transmission of noise from the front wall 8 to the sleeve 56, and the foam rubber component 61, together with the filler 11 in the compartment 9, reduces the transmission of noise from the front wall 8 to the mounting wall 2. The components 46, 49, 57, 61 and the filler 11 also serve to prevent the transmission of sound in the opposite direction, i.e., from the-turret 3 to the shaft 52, from the sleeve 56 to the front wall 8, and from the mounting wall 2 to the front wall 8.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate means for preventing or reducing the extent of sound transmission from and between the main or primary source or sources of noise. The source of noise is a gear train including two rotary elements here shown as mating ring gears 63 and 64 which surround annular soundproofing components 68, 69 of synthetic plastic or other material and flanges 66, 67. FIG. 6 shows that the ring gear.64 has an internal surface provided with alternating projections and tooth spaces which register with complementary tooth spaces and projections of the respective component 69. The flange 67 has external projections and tooth spaces which register with complementary tooth spaces and projections in the internal surface of the component 69. Such configuration insures a reliable transmission of torque from the gear 64 to the flange 67 or vice versa. The construction of the parts 63, 68, 66 is preferably analogous. The flange 67 is rigid or integral with a hollow shaft 71 whose axially extending passage is filled with a mass 72 of sand. The hollow shaft 71 rotates in one or more antifriction bearings 73 installed in a wall of the casing of the transmission assembly 1. The outer race of the bearing 73 shown in FIG. 5 is separated from the adjacent surface of the wall 74 by annular soundproofing components 76, 77 consisting of sinter metal or a synthetic plastic substance. The ring gears 63, 64 are assumed to be installed in the interior of the transmission assembly 1 and the components 68, 69, 72, 76, 77 reduce the transmission of noise to the wall 74 of the transmission case. Additional reduction of noise in the transmission assembly 1 can be achieved by appropriate selection of a lubricant.

At least some components of the soundproofing means between the case of the transmission assembly 1 and the mounting wall 2, between the power take-off means (see the shaft 28 of FIG. 3) of the transmission assembly 1 and the processing devices 3, 4, 6 at the front side of the mounting wall 2, and between the elements in the interior of the transmission case (see the gears 63, 64) also serve to reduce or prevent the transmission of noise in reverse. For example, the relatively large turrets 3, 4 can generate substantial amounts of noise when the packing machine is in operation and, in the absence of components 46, 49 shown in FIG. 4, such noise could be propagated from the turret 3 to the mounting wall 2 and/or to the shaft 52 in the case of the transmission assembly 1.

The generation of noise in the interior of the transmission case can be due to the fact that certain elements transmit impacts to one or more associated elements, that certain elements are in mesh with the associated elements, that certain elements rub against or roll along other elements, that certain elements are mounted on shafts or the like with a certain amount of clearance, that the clearances between certain elements increase in response to prolonged wear, and/or for a combination of these reasons.

An important advantage of the improved soundproofing means is that such means reduce the transmission of sound from the elements which are installed in the interior of the transmission assembly to the transmission case, from the transmission case to the mounting wall 2 and/or to the area surrounding those walls of the case which are not adjacent to the mounting wall 2, from the output elements or powertake-offs of the transmission'assembly to the driven processing devices at the front side of the mounting wall 2, and from such driven processing devices to the wall 2. Moreover, such reduction of noise is achieved without completely concealing each and every device at the front side of the mounting wall 2 so that the unconcealed devices remain accessible at all times to allow for rapid detection and elimination of causes of malfunction. It has been found that a machine which embodies the soundproofing means of FIGS. 2 to 6 is practically noiseless, especially when compared with presently known machines.

It is further clear that, even though the drawing shows means for reducing the noise which is generated by a packing machine, similar or identical soundproofing means can be employed in machines for the making of plain or filter-tipped cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, in machines for the production of filter rod sections, and/or in many other types of machines which are used for the production and/or processing of smokers products or other products which are being produced and- /or processed at a high rate of speed so that the moving elements of the machines are likely to produce excessive noise.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Inv a machine for the production and/or processing of smokers products, the combination of a mounting wall; a plurality of processing devices movably supported by said wall; a transmission assembly having a plurality of mobile elements, said transmission assembly being connected with said mounting wall and said element being arranged to drive said processing devices with attendant generation of noise; first soundproofing means interposed between said wall and said transmission assembly; and second soundproofing means interposed between said elements and said devices.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said transmission assembly comprises a second wall adjacent to said mounting wall, and further comprising connecting means for securing said second wall-to said mounting wall.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said walls define at least one compartment and said first soundproofing means comprises a sound absorbing material at least partially filling said compartment.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said material is sand.

5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said first soundproofing means includes at least one component of said connecting means.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said component is a distancing member consisting of a material having pronounced self-damping characteristics.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said second soundproofing means comprises at least one coupling including at least one component consisting of a material having pronounced self-damping characteristics.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and second soundproofing means include components consisting of a material which opposes or prevents the transmission of noise through solid bodies and the noise generated by said elements further includes noise transmitted through air, and further comprising a hood surrounding at least a portion of said transmission assembly and consisting at least in part of a material which intercepts said last mentioned noise.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said hood consists of several layers including at least one metallic layer and a layer of fibrous material.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said elements include mating gears and at least one of said soundproofing means includes components consisting of sinter metal and synthetic plastic material.

ll. The combination of claim 1, wherein at least one of said soundproofing means includes at least one component consisting of foam rubber.

12. The combination of claim 1, wherein said machine is a cigarette packing machine.

13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said transmission assembly includes at least one case for said elements and said first soundproofing means includes components interposed between the elements in said case and components interposed between said case and said wall.

* l a a 

1. In a machine for the production and/or processing of smokers'' products, the combination of a mounting wall; a plurality of processing devices movably supported by said wall; a transmission assembly having a plurality of mobile elements, said transmission assembly being connected with said mounting wall and said element being arranged to drive said processing devices with attendant generation of noise; first soundproofing means interposed between said wall and said transmission assembly; and second soundproofing means interposed between said elements and said devices.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said transmission assembly comprises a second wall adjacent to said mounting wall, and further comprising connecting means for securing said second wall to said mounting wall.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said walls define at least one compartment and said first soundproofing means comprises a sound absorbing material at least partially filling said compartment.
 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said material is sand.
 5. The combination of claim 2, wherein said first soundproofing means includes at least one component of said connecting means.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said component is a distancing member consisting of a material having pronounced self-damping characteristics.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said second soundproofing means comprises at least one coupling including at least one component consisting of a material having pronounced self-damping characteristics.
 8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and second soundproofing means include components consisting of a material which opposes or prevents the transmission of noise through solid bodies and the noise generated by said elements further includes noise transmitted through air, and further comprising a hood surrounding at least a portion of said transmission assembly and consisting at least in part of a material which intercepts said last mentioned noise.
 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said hood consists of several layers including at least one metallic layer and a layer of fibrous material.
 10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said elements include mating gears and at least one of said soundproofing means includes components consisting of sinter metal and synthetic plastic material.
 11. The combination of claim 1, wherein at least one of said soundproofing means includes at least one component consisting of foam rubber.
 12. The combination of claim 1, wherein said machine is a cigarette packing machine.
 13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said transmission assembly includes at least one case for said elements and said first soundproofing means includes components interposed between the elements in said case and components interposed between said case and said wall. 